Collapsible flower-stand



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

L. G. BEERS & H. EBERHARDT.

. GOLLAPSIBLB FLOWER STAND.

No. 574,859. 4 Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

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Patented Jan. 5; 1897.

7 m E W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. BEERS AND HENRY EBERHARDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE GILBERT & BENNETT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF GEORGE- TOWN, CONNECTICUT.

COLLAPSIBLE FLOWER-STAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,859, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed June 12,1895.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, LOUIs G. BEERS and HENRY EBERHARDT, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C01- lapsible Flower-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lo flower-stands, and especially to that class made of metal and ornamental wirework; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be herein- I 5 after more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

By reason of the step-like shape in which flower-stands are generally constructed they occupy a large amount of space when the parts are in their respective positions for use, and this bulkiness is objectionable for the reason that it is expensive to dealers in shipping their goods, and, besides, the structures are liable to be damaged by coming in contact with other articles.

It is therefore the object of our invention to provide a separable or collapsible flowerstand the parts of which may be readily joined together, so as to afford an attractive stand which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, and durable, and which maybe readily separated, one part from another, and packed into a comparatively small package or compass.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention pertains to make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is'a side view in elevation of one of our stands, showing it in posit-ion for the reception of flower-pots. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a view in elevation of the lower part of the front of the stand, showing the manner of securing the ornamental wirework to the supporting-frame. Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5 of Fig. 4;. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one ofthe detachable clamps used for securing the parts to the supportingframe, and Fig. 7 is a similar view of said clamp formed with a socket-piece for the upper part of the stand.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A represents the legs or supporting-frame of the stand. These legs are preferably made of material substantially T-shaped in crosssection, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, that is, said material is provided with a rib a, having on its outer edge a web or fiat portion a, which forms the top and face of the supporting-frame, while the rib a is presented vertically and edgewise to the weight on the stand, thus attainil'ig greater strength and rigidity.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings, the legs are made in pairs, one of which is placed at each end of the stand, so that the trays B, which are made of wire and in any suitable style or pattern, may rest and be secured on the ledges or steps A of the supporting-legs. Each pair of legs is preferably made of one piece of material, bent at its upper portion to form a number of ledges or rests A and braced by means of connecting-rods a secured to the ribs a of the front and rear legs of each pair. The lower part 'of each of the legs is provided on its inner sur- 8o face with lugs or socket-pieces a for the reception and retention of the ornamental wirework frame C at the front of the stand and the bracing-frame C at the rear of the stand.

The frame C is made, as shown in Fig. 4, of a rod bent into a rectangular shape or substantially of an inverted letter U. The lower ends of the rod or frame C are inserted within the sockets a on the front legs of the frame, and the upper portion is detachably secured to the upper part of said legs by means of the clamps D, as will be presently explained.

Near the lower ends of the frame or rod C are secured brace-pieces c and c, the latter of which are connected to the horizontal portion of the frame C at about its middle, while the rod 0 unites the two ends horizontally. Between the sides of the frame C and the brace-rods a may be placed ornamental wirework 0 of any desired pattern or style. The Ice frame C'is similarlyconstructed, located, and secured to the rear legs of the frame, with the exception that the ornamental wirework is usually omitted, and said frame extends to the top of the rear legs, thus requiring longer brace-rods c, which cross each other at about the middle of the frameinstead of meeting at the top thereof, as shown in Fig. 4.

Besides the clamps D, which are employed to secure the frame 0 to the rear legs at their upper portion, we also sometimes use the combined socket and clamp D, which is for the double purpose of retaining in position the frame (1, as well as the top part E, which. is made of ornamental wirework having upright pieces E, united at their tops and secured together at their lower portion by means of the horizontal rod 6, which is connected to the upright pieces in any suitable manner. The clamps D are each made of a body or flat piece of material (Z, having one of its ends d bent at a right angle and provided with an opening for a set-screw (1 while the other end or portion is bent back over the flat part or body (Z, yet a slight distance therefrom, so as to form a hook (1 which overlaps the wire that is to be secured to the supporting-frame, as well as a portion of the web of said frame. It is obvious that this clamp can be readily secured on or removed from the stand at any desired point and that the ornamental wirework frame 0 or brace-frame C may be quickly and firmly placed in position.

The trays B are usually provided with transverse wires 1), with which the clamps D will engage in a manner similar to that sliown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and will securely connect the trays to the ledges of the supportingframe.

The combined clamp and socket D is of the same construction as the clamp D above described, except that the outer surface of the flat body (Z is provided with a vertical socket d having a set-screw d to en gage the upright pieces E of the top piece E when they are inserted in the said socket, asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The top piece E may be suitably ornamented with fancy wirework c and a basket or tray 15 may be located near the upper part thereof and detachably secured thereto, if desired.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the supporting-legs formed with ledges 0r rests in their upper parts and sockets in their lower portions, with bracing-frames between the front and rear of the pairs of legs and fitted in said sockets, the trays to rest on the ledges, a number of removable clamps to secure the bracing-frames at their top and the trays to the legs, the combined clamps and sockets secured to the rear supporting-legs, and the ornamental top piece in said sockets, substantially as described.

- 2. The combination of a bar T-shaped in cross-section, with a clamp composed of a piece of material having one of its ends bent at a right angle to its body, a set-screw located in and projecting through said bent portion and parallel with the body of the clamp, the other end of the clamp being bent back upon itself forming a hook to overlap one of the flanges of the bar, and a rod interposed between the hook and the bar, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bar T-shaped in crosssection, of' a combined clamp and socket-piece, composed of a piece of material having one of its ends bent at a right angle to its body, and provided with a set-serew in said bent portion to admit of the insertion of one of the flanges of the bar between the screw and the body of the clamp and to contact with the rib of the bar, and its other end bent back upon itself to form a hook and overlap the other flange of the bar, a rod interposed between said hook and flange, and a transverse piece integral with the body, and having a socket at right angles to said set-screw, substantially as described.

LOUIS G. BEERS. HENRY EBERIIARDT. Witnesses:

CHAS. O. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

